Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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WATERPROOF TOP END STOP OF SLIDE FASTENER
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a waterproof top end stop
for a slide fastener for use in an opening/closing mouth of wet
suit, waterproof trousers, waterproof shoesfor use under water,
and the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventionally known waterproof top end stop 101 for
a slide fastener disclosed by a Japanese Utility Model
Application Publication No. 4-36659 and shown in FIG. 11
includes: an accommodation hole 110 capable of accommodating
a diamond 121 in a slider 102 provided in its center; passage
portions 114 in which the diamond 121 can be inserted and which
can be closed firmly, the passage portions 114 leading to the
accommodation hole 110; an inner sealing portion 111, 113 having
a large thickness capable of surrounding the accommodation hole
110 and the passage portions 114; and a rib-like seal 112 which
is projected from a surface of the inner sealing portion 111,
113 throughout the accommodation hole 110 and the passage
portions 114, the rib-like seal 112 being entirely formed in
a racket-like shape and capable of making a firm contact with
inner faces of upper and lower blades 120 of the slider 102.
In the waterproof top end stop 101 for a slide fastener
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shown in FIG. 11, its inner sealinq portion 111, 113 having a
large thickness capable of burying an inside of a body of the
slider 102 is formed entirely to be long longitudinally. A
rib-like seal 112 which makes a contact with upper and lower
blades 120 of the slider 102 formed on the inner sealing portion
111, 113 needs to be projected in a form of a racket into both
the accommodation hole 110 and thE: passage portions 114.
Accordingly, this structure is not so preferable from viewpoints
of waterproof and airproof because the rib-like seal 112 is
provided for a long distance. Further, in this top end stop
101, flanges 122 of the slider 102 are brought into a firm contact
with the passage portions 114 including a diamond 121 when the
slider 102 is pulled up in order to seal the passage portions
114 formed within the inner sealing portion 111, 113. According
to this structure, side faces of the passage portions 114 are
just brought into contact with each other by the flanges 122
of the slider 102. Thus, there is such a problem that water
may penetrate or invade through the passage portions 114 because
side faces of the passage portions 1]L4 are only joined together.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been achieved in view of the
above-described problem, and a first object of the invention
is to provide a waterproof top end stop for a slide fastener,
in which a protrusion which makes contact with an inner face
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of each of upper and lower blades of a slider, namely, rib-like
seal is formed as short as possible to raise waterproof and
airproof properties, and pressing portions for positively
pressing an outer side face of the top end stop are formed so
as to bring contact faces of insertion leg portions, namely,
contact portions of a diamond passage portions into a firm contact
with each other by forming the coritact portions as short as
possible, thereby securing waterproof and airproof effects.
In addition to the first object, a second object of the
invention is to provide a waterproof top end stop for a slide
fastener, in which the pressing portions are provided on outer
edge portions of insertion leg portions corresponding to the
passage portions to close the passage portions accurately and
smoothly, thereby raising waterproof and airproof effects.
In addition to the first object, a third object of the
invention is to provide a waterproof top end stop for a slide
fastener, in which a relation amorig the pressing portions
installed on the insertion leg portions of the top end stop,
the outer edge portions located inside the pressing portions
and a slider which accommodates these pressing portions and outer
edge portions is specified so as to raise waterproof and airproof
effects effectively and accurately.
In addition to the first object, fourth and fifth objects
of the invention are to provide a waterproof top end stop for
a slide fastener, in which a configuration of the pressing
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portions which are formed on both outer sides of the insertion
leg portions of the top end stop and make contact with flanges
of the slider is specified so as to bring the contact portions
of the insertion leg portions into an aggressive contact with
each other effectively and accurately, thereby raising the
waterproof and airproof effects.
In addition to the fourth objiect, a sixth object of the
invention is to provide a waterproof top end stop for a slide
fastener, in which the insertion leg portions are brought into
a partial contact with the blades of the slider through the
protrusion and pressing portions, thereby achieving smooth and
light sliding of the slider.
In order to achievethe above-described object, according
to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a waterproof
top end stop for a slide fastener having elasticity, which is
fixed adjacent to fastener elements provided along opposing side
edges of a pair of fastener tapes in a slide fastener and which
is connected to the fastener tapes, wherein an accommodating
portion capable of accommodating a diamond of a sliding slider
is provided in a center thereof such that the accommodating
portion is surrounded by insertion leg portions; protrusions
which make contact with upper and lower blades of the slider
are provided projectingly along an inner peripheral edge portion
11 provided on an inner edge of the accommodating portion; passage
portions which allow the diamond of the slider to pass through
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is provided at end portions on inner sides of the insertion leg
portions; and pressing portions projecting with respect to a
contact faces of leg portions in the fastener elements adjacent
to the top end stop or a faces making a sliding contact with
the slider are provided on both outer sides of the top end stop,
namely, outside the insertion leg portions. The pressing
portions can be pressed inward when the slider is slid. Due
to contact between the pressing portion and the slider, the
passage portions are closed firmly.
According to a second aspect of the invention, in addition
to the first aspect, there is provided a waterproof top end stop
for a slide fastener, wherein the pressing portions installed
in the top end stop are formed at positions corresponding to
the passage portions which allow the diamond of the slider to
pass through, that is, on outer edge portions of the insertion
leg portions.
According to a. third aspect of the invention, in addition
to the first aspect, there is provided a waterproof top end stop
for a slide fastener, wherein the pressing portions installed
in the top end stop are provided on the outer edge portions on
a side of an entrance of the insertion leg portions, and the
outer edge portions provided inside of the top end stop from
the pressing portions are formed narrower than an interval
between right and left flanges of the slider to avoid making
contact with the flangeso
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According to a. fourth aspect of the invention, in addition
to the first aspect, there is provided a waterproof top end stop
for a slide fastener, wherein the pressing portions installed
in the top end stop are formed to project in up and down directions
from the insertion leg portions.
According to a fifth aspect of' the invention, in addition
to the first aspect, there is provided a waterproof top end stop
for a slide fastener, wherein the pressing portions installed
in the top end stop are formed to pro ject in an outward direction
from the insertion leg portions.
According to a sixth aspect of the invention, in addition
to the fourth aspect, there is provided a waterproof top end
stop for a slide fastener, wherein the protrusions and pressing
portions provided on the insertion leg portions of the top end
stop project in up and down directions while a portion between
the protrusions and pressing portions is recessed.
Advantages of the present invention will be described
below.
According to the first aspect of the invention, even when
the passage portions which allow the diamond of the slider to
pass through are formed with short small contact faces, the
pressing portions provided on both outer sides of the top end
stop press the insertion leg portions inward aggressively so
as to block water from penetrating or invading. Further, even
if the protrusions making contact with the inner faces of blades
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of the slider is formed in a short length along the inner peripheral
edge portion of the accommodating portion, waterproof and
airproof properties can be exerted effectively, and moreover,
the top end stop can be formed easily.
According to the second aspe:ct of the invention, the
passage portions provided inside the insertion leg portions is
pressed and closed accurately to block penetration and invasion
of water through the passage portiLons, thereby enhancing
waterproof and airproof properties.
According to the third aspect of the invention, the
pressing portions provided on the side of an entrance of the
insertion leg portions are pressed iinward by a sliding operation
while inside portions, that is, deep sides relative to the
pressing portions do not make contact with the flanges.
Consequently, the sliding operation of the slider can be carried
out lightly.
According to the fourth and fifth aspects of the invention,
the pressing portions provided on the insertion leg portions
can be brought into a sliding contact with the flanges of the
slider securely, so that the passage portions provided inside
the insertion leg portions can be pressed and closed securely.
Consequently, extremely favorable waterproof and airproof
effects are achieved.
According to the sixth aspect of the invention, the
insertion leg portions make a partial contact with the inner
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faces of the upper and lower blades of the slider, so that the
slider can be slid smoothly and lightly. Therefore, the
advantages realized.by the present invention are remarkable.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a waterproof top end stop
for a slider fastener;
FIG. 2 is a partially broken front view of a slider, showing
a use condition of the waterproof top end stop;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of the top end stop of
FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the top end stop taken along
a line IV-IV in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a front view showing the use condition of the
top end stop;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of major portions indicating
a relation between a pressing portion of the top end stop and
a fastener element;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a modification of the top
end stop;
FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the modification of the top
end stop taken along a line VIII-V'III in FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is a side view showing a state in which a slider
is brought into a sliding contact with the top end stop;
FIG. 10 is a perspective vieiv of another top end stop;
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and
FIG. 11 is a front view showing a use condition of a known
top end stop.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
As regards a waterproof top end stop for a slide fastener
of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, surfaces
of a pair of fastener tapes 5 are coatedwith awaterproof material
6 such as thermoplastic elastomer composed of vinyl chloride
or polyethylene or synthetic rubber to form base fabrics 4.
Fastener elements 7 composed of thermoplastic resin such as
polyamide or polyacetal are formed on side edges of the base
fabrics 4 by injection molding. A-top end stop 1 is formed at
an end portion having the fastener elements 7 attached, the top
end stop being composed of the same material as the aforementioned
waterproof material 6 and having elasticity in order to stop
a slider 2.
The top end stop 1 has one end closed. The top end stop
1 includes an accommodating portion 10 capable of accommodating
a diamond 21 of the slider 2 provided in a center thereof , and
insertion leg portions 13 formed on right and left sides of the
other end such that they are adjacent to the fastener elements
7. Passage portions 14 which allow the diamond 21 of the slider
2 to pass through are formed at sides of entrance end portions
of the insertion leg portions 13, namely, on sides of the insertion
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leg portions 13 adjacent to the fastener elements 7. The passage
portions 14 are constructed such t:hat right and left passage
portions 14 join together to secure waterproof property when
a fastener chain is closed with the slider 2.
Pressing portions 15 are provieded by projecting right and
lef t outer sides of the insertion leg portions 13 slightly outward
with respect to outside edges of the fastener elements 7, so
that the pressing portions 15 are projected in up and down
directions while making contact with flanges 22 of the slider
2. Protrusions 12 are provided so as to be projected toward
inner faces of upper and lower blades 20 of the slider 2 to make
contact therewith along an inner peripheral edge portion 11 of
the accommodating portion 10 which accommodates the diamond 21.
Entrance end portions of the protrusions 12 face the passage
portions 14 of the insertion leg portions 13, and end portions
of the protrusions are cut out obliquely to form inclined faces
16, thereby reducing an impact on the upper and lower blades
20 to facilitate passage of the diamond 21 when it is inserted.
Stoppers 17 are provided protrudedly on both closed end faces
of the top end stop 1 so that head portions 23 of the blades
20 of the slider 2 can make contact with, thereby accommodating
the slider 2 accurately in the accommodating portion 10.
In the meantime, back faces of' the base fabrics 4 outside
the closed stoppers 17 of the top end stop 1 are lined with a
seal material 8 to integrate the riqht and left fastener tapes
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5.
As regards a relation between. the top end stop 1 and the
slider 2, waterproof and airproof properties are exerted in such
a manner that the diamond 21 is accommodated in the accommodating
portion 10 of the top end stop 1 by sliding the slider 2, so
that the top end stop 1 is used as a waterproof top end stop.
At this time, when the top end stop 1 accommodates the diamond
21 of the slider 2 in the accommodating portion 10, the protrusions
12 provided along the inner peripheral edge portion 11 of the
accommodating portion 10 make a pressure contact with inner faces
of the blades 20 as shown in FIG. 4, so that upper and lower
faces of the top end stop 1 are closed firmly with inner faces
of the slider 2. Regarding a sealing function of the passage
portions 14 which allow the diamond 21 to pass through, thepassage
portion 14 being formed in the insertion leg portions 13 of the
top end stop 1, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the pressing portions
15 formed in the right and left insertion leg portions 13 are
pressed inwardby the flanges 22 so as to bring the passage portions
14 into a firm contact with each other from right and left.
Therefore, the waterproof and airproof effects of the top end
stop 1 are exerted by bringing the protrusions 12 and the blades
20 into a pressure contact and pressing the pressing portions
15 inward by the flanges 22, so as to seal the passage portions
14.
First embodiment
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In awaterproof top end stop according to a first embodiment
shown in FIGS. 1 to 9, front and rear surfaces of a pair of fastener
tapes 5 are coated with a waterproof material 6 of thermoplastic
elastomer such as vinyl chloride or=polyethylene or synthetic
rubber so as to form a base fabrics 4. Then, fastener elements
7 are formed on opposing side edges of the base fabrics 4 by
injection-molding using thermoplastic resin such as polyamide,
polyacetal, polypropylene and polybutylene terephthalate.
Each of the fastener elements 7 is formed of mainly a coupling
head 28 and a leg portion 29. The leg portion 29 is formed of
a square body while a contact face 31 is formed at an outer end
of the leg portion 29 such that flanges 22 of a slider 2 makes
a sliding contact therewith. Fin portions 30 in a flat shape
are provided on the contact face 3lat a side of one of the fastener
tapes 5, and the flanges 22 of the slider 2 makes contact with
the fin portions 30 and the contact face 31 when the slider slides.
The coupling head 28 is projected from the leg portion
29 in a form of a number 8, and engaging pieces 32 which are
in a flat shape and flush with the edge of the fastener tape
are provided on the leg portion 29 at a side of the head portion
28 and fitted to a concave groove 33 provided in the coupling
head 28 of a mating fastener element. Therefore, the concave
groove 33 is formed in a front end of the coupling head 28, so
that the engaging pieces 32 projected from both sides of the
fastener element 7 of the mating fastener element are
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accommodated to engage the right and left fastener elements 7
with each other.
The upper and lower blades 20 of the slider 2 are joined
with the diamond 21, and the flanges 22 for guiding the fastener
elements 7 are provided curvedly on both outer sides of the blades
20. By sliding this slider 2 in back and forth directions, the
fastener elements 7 molded on the side edges of the base fabrics
4 are brought into firm contact with each other both in back
and forth directions and in right and left directions so as to
provide the right and left base fabric 4 with waterproof property.
A top end stop :1 is injection-molded with the same material
as the thermoplastic elastomer suc;h as vinyl chloride or
polyethylene or synthetic rubber applied to the surfaces of the
base fabrics 4. In the top end stop 1, the accommodating portion
capable of accommodating the diamond 21 of the slider 2 is
formed in the center with a front erid thereof closed such that
it is continuous to the fastener elernents 7 attached to the side
edges of the base fabrics 4, and insertion leg portions 13 are
provided integrally on right and left sides of the accommodating
portion 10. As showri in FIG. 2, the top end stop 1 further includes
the protrusions 12 which is accommodated within the right and
left flanges 22 of the slider 2 and provided projectingly toward
a surface along the inner peripher=al edge portion 11 of the
accommodating portion 10 in the center thereof. The protrusions
12 are constructed to make contact with the inner faces of the
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upper and lower blades 20 of the slider 2 to ensure waterproof
performance. Formi:ng of the protrusions 12 along the inner
peripheral edge portion 11 means forming of the protrusions 12
at a predetermined distance from the inner peripheral edge
portion 11 along a contour of the inner peripheral edge portion
11 or forming of the protrusions 12 on a same plane as the inner
peripheral edge portion 11. That is, the protrusions 12 are
formed so as to surround the diamond 21 together with the
accommodating portion 10.
Entrance end portions of the insertion leg portions 13
of the top end stop 1 can be brought into a firm contact with
each other as shown in FIG. 3 to forrn passage portions 14 which
allow the diamond 21 to pass through easily. The protrusions
12 are formed so as to end at the passage portions 14, and the
passage portions 14 and the edges of the fastener tapes 5 are
formed on an identical plane. Then, inclined faces 16 are formed
by cutting portions facing entrances of the protrusions 12,
namely, corners of surfaces on a side adjacent to the fastener
elements 7 to provide with slopes..A provision of the inclined
faces 16 reduces an impact on the upper and lower blades 20,
thereby making the diamond 21 to pass through smoothly.
Pressing portions 15 are provided on part of right and
left outer sides of the entrance end portions of the insertion
leg portions 13 of the top end stop 1 such that the pressing
portions 15 are projected outward with respect to outer edges
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of the insertion leg portions 13 while they are projected toward
the blades 20 from tipper and bottom surfaces of the insertion
leg portions13. The pressing portions15are projected outward
with respect to outer side faces, namely, the contact faces 31
of the leg portion 29 in the fastener element 7 molded as shown
in FIGS. 3 and 6. When the slider 2 is slid up to a terminal
end, there is generated a gap between the flanges 22 of the slider
2 and the contact faces 31 of the leg portion 29. However, no
gap exists between the flanges 22 of the slider 2 and the pressing
portions 15 molded on the outer side edges of the insertion leg
portions 13 of the top end stop 1 so that they make firm contact
with each other. Consequently, the pressing portions 15 are
pressed inward by the flanges 22, so that the passage portions
14 are closed firmly. If speaking further, a dimension of a
width from the outer sides of the pressing portions 15 to the
edge portions of the fastener tapes 5 is larger than a dimension
of a width from the contact faces 31 of the leg portion 29 to
the end portions of the fastener tapes 5. Since the pressing
portions 15 project toward the blades 20, contact areas between
the pressing portions 15 and flanges 22 can be increased.
On an inner side or deep side relative to the pressing
portions 15 formed on the insertion leg portions 13, a width
of the top end stop 1 is formed narrower than a gap between the
flanges 22 of the slider 2 as shown i:n FIG. 3 so that the flanges
22 and the insertioii leg portions 13 do contact each other in
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order to slide the slider 2 smoothly. The top end stop 1
has outer edge portions opposite to the passage portions 14.
The passage portions 14 can contact each other. The
insertion leg portions 13 have a section, which does not
make contact with the flanges 22, is formed inwardly from
the outer edge portions of the top end stop 1. The
pressing portions 15 are formed at least at positions
corresponding to the passage portions 14. The pressing
portions 15 are formed at least to have the same lengths as
those of the protrusions 12 that face the passage portions
14. Preferably, the pressing portions 15 are formed so
that the lengths of the pressing portions 15 are longer
than the protrusions 12, and are same or longer than the
passage portions 14. A recession is provided between the
protrusions 12 formed around the accommodating portion 10
and the pressing portions 15 in the insertion leg portions
13 of the top end stop 1. Consequently, the slider 2 can
slide smoothly and lightly because of a partial contact by
the blades 20 of the slider 2.
The positions of the right and left end portions at
the entrance of the insertion leg portions 13 are different,
based on the arrangement of the fastener elements 7. The
right and left end portions of the protrusions are aligned.
Stoppers 17 are projected from the front and rear
surfaces as shown in FIG. 9 at the closed front end of the
top end stop 1 such that the stoppers 17 meet outer edges
of shoulder mouths of head portions 23 of the upper and
lower blades 20 of the slider 2 and can make contact
therewith, as shown in FIG. 2. Consequently, the head
portions 23 of the blades 20 of the slider
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2 are brought into an aggressive contact with the stoppers 17
to stop the sliding of the slider 2. The base fabrics 4 outside
the stoppers 17 are lined with a seal material 8 made of
thermoplastic elastomer in order to secure waterproof property.
A use condition of this top e:nd stop 1 will be described
hereinafter. When the slider 2 mounted on the right and left
base fabrics 4 is slid toward the top end stop 1 as shown in
FIG. 5, the diamond 21 pushes and opens the passage portions
14 of the top end sto;p 1 having elasticity, and the head portions
23 of the blades 20 of the slider 2 make contact with the stoppers
17 while the diamond 21 is accommodated in the accommodating
portion 10. Consequently, the flanges 22 of the slider 2 push
the right and left pressing portions 15 to bring the passage
portions 14 into a pressure contact with each other. In addition,
the protrusions 12 of the top end stop 1 make a pressure contact
with the inner faces of the blades 20 of the slider 2, thereby
maintaining waterproof and airproof properties at terminals of
the base fabrics 4.
To release the waterproof and airproof properties, the
slider 2 is slid in a direction of departing from the top end
stop 1 to push apart the passage portions 14 of the insertion
leg portions 13 by means of the diamond 21, thereby allowing
the slider 2 to slide.
FIGS. 7 and 8 show a modification of the waterproof top
end stop according to the first embodiment. In a peripheral
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portion of the top end stop 1, inclined portions are formed at
least at the pressing portions 15 and the insertion leg portions
13 on a side of the fastener elements 7 of the fastener tapes
5. As shown in a cross sectional view in FIG. 8, the inclined
portions are formed :in a inclined plane shape in which thickness
thereof is reduced toward an outside of the top end stop 1. With
this feature, the top end stop 1 is not easily caught even if
someone intentionally tries to peel it off, thereby enabling
to provide the top end stop 1 enduring a long-term use.
Second embodiment
A waterproof top end stop according to a second embodiment
shown in FIG. 10 is different from the first embodiment in that
a pressing portions 15 provided on outer edges of insertion leg
portions 13 of the top end stop 1 are flat and not projected
upward/downward. If speaking in detail, the top end stop 1 formed
of thermoplastic elastomer has an accommodating portion 10 for
accommodating a diamond 21, and protrusions 12 projecting
upward/downward along an inner peripheral edge portion 11 of
the accommodating portion 10 are provided on front and rear faces
so that they can make a pressure contact with inner faces of
blades 20. Then, the pressing portions 15 are formed on the
outer edges of the right and left insertion leg portions 13 such
that they are swolleri slightly from outer faces of the insertion
leg portions 13. The pressing portions 15 are formed in a same
thickness as the insertion leg portions 13 existing on the front
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and rear faces of the top end stop 1, and makes a sliding contact
with inner faces of flanges 22 of the slider 2.
When the slider 2 is slid toward the top end stop 1, the
pressing portions 15) formed on the outer edges of the insertion
leg portions 13 of the top end stop 1. are pressed by the flanges
22 of the slider 2, so that the insertion leg portions 13 are
pushed inward to bring passage portions 14 into a pressure contact
with each other. In this top end stop 1, the protrusions 12
provided along the inner peripheral portion 11 of the
accommodating portion 10 make a pressure contact with the inner
faces of the blades 20 of the slider 2, and the passage portions
14 are brought into a. firm contact with each other by the flanges
22 of the slider 2. Consequently, the top end stop 1 has a
waterproof function.
The top end stops of the first and second embodiments
described above are riot restricted to an injection type fastener
element but may be applied to a fasterier chain having a coil-like
fastener element or a zigzag-like fastener element formed of
synthetic resin mono-filament. In such a case, contact faces
of each leg portion of each fastener element refers to an inverted
portion on an opposite side to a coupling head continuous from
upper and lower leg portions of the coil-like or zigzag-like
fastener element, namely, an outside of a connecting portion,
meaning a portion which makes contact with flanges of a sliding
slider.
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The waterproof top end stop for a slide fastener of the
present invention is used in an opening portion of a variety
of wet suits and waterproof trousers and an opening portion of
waterproof shoe for underwater operation, located under water
when used, and in an opening portion of a bag, ensuring waterproof
and airproof prope.rtiese
